MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. expressed optimism yesterday that the country’s military, building on the gains of 2018, will do more in 2019 as protectors of the people and the state.

He said the AFP’s accomplishments would also improve hopes for an enduring peace and development for the country.

“We have gone a long way treading the path of peace and we are optimistic that the New Year will bring us closer to our common aspirations as the AFP continues to reap more successes in the performance of its mandate to protect the people and secure the state,” he said in his New Year message yesterday.

“As we welcome the New Year, we expect all our soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and civilian human resources to be reinvigorated and more eager to continue the significant gains that we have achieved in the past year,’ he said.

Madrigal noted that the AFP has made significant contribution to our country’s peace effort in 2018 as it facilitated the end of conflict with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Moreover, our continuous focused military operations led to the countless surrender of communist rebels and supporters, the clearing of guerrilla fronts, as well as the arrest of top New People’s Army (NPA) leaders and personalities,” he said.

“We hope that for their New Year’s resolution, more and more NPA members will heed the call to lay down their arms and join mainstream society in its nation-building efforts,” he added.

Madrigal claimed that 2018 has truly been a successful year for the AFP as “we fulfill our tasks within the national thrust towards just and lasting peace and development for the Philippines.”

“As this year closes, the AFP will continue its resolve in serving the Filipino nation in achieving its mission of protecting the people and securing the state,” he said.

Jeepney drivers will be provided with the third tranche of cash assistance this month to help them and their families cope with the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

It has become quite apparent from our own experiences and that of other countries during the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic that governments are becoming increasingly reliant on digital technologies to fight the pandemic and mitigate its impact on society and the economy.